My Second Kamayan Party And How A Migraine Almost Made Me Miss It

26 April 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MoreMomentsWithExcedrin #CollectiveBias

The people closest to me are aware that I suffer from migraines. It’s something I don’t like to share because they happen too frequently, ever since I was in grade school. Because these headaches are pretty frequent and being that I have an intense schedule and career, I don’t want clients or partners to think I can’t handle the tasks or travel. One of my biggest pet peeves in life are flakes, whether social or professional.

I made a it a goal to go back to the Philippines to spend time with my mother’s family, learn about the culture, go back to locations I haven’t stepped foot on since I was kid and most of all eat delicious Filipino food.

Culture means everything to me. My cousins gave me the most precious gift I could ever receive. First, a Filipiana photo shoot where I wore traditional gowns along the scenic countryside of Pampanga, the provence my family is from.

Second, a traditional Kamayan feast. This literally means hands to mouth. Most of the families over there eat with their hands to this day when they are home. It’s something the Indios of the Philippines have done since day one. When the Spaniards colonized the country, it was frowned down upon. They thought this way of eating was savage. When someone from my family goes away, they always celebrate with Kamayan. It was one of the nicest and most unique experiences of my life.

A few months ago, MasterChef Season 5 Finalist Francis Biondi invited me to his Kamay Or Die Filipino Pop Up. This was such a treat, especially since we’ve known each other for some time via social media. I’m all about supporting our community and it was about time I tried his dishes!

Unfortunately, I woke up with a migraine that day. Luckily, I always have Excedrin® Migraine(indicated for migraines)on hand, in fact, my purses and equipment bag are always stocked. Prescription migraine medication makes me groggy, I also seem to space out, so I never take it. This is also #1 Neurologist Recommended, which makes me feel better about my choice.

Consult your doctor if you think you are suffering from migraines. Among OTC medicine for migraines. Symphony Health Solutions, 2016

And guess what? I felt good as new after 30 minutes.

Maria and I headed off to Guest House to enjoy this traditional Filipino feast!

Kamay starts off in layers

Filipino style ribs.

Veggies cooked with adobo prawns. There were also pieces of lechon kawali and fish. It was so good and traditional.

We ended the meal with turon (sweet plantain eggrolls) on top of ube ice cream.

Whenever I have a headache or migraine, I like to give myself a little TLC. The beauty of these two remedies is that they really do help and they’re so easy to do.

Ginger Tea:

Ginger is known to help with inflammation, headaches and even stomach issues.

Another home remedy that helps me is a nice warm bath. Be sure to use luke warm water, you don’t want it to be too hot. The peppermint bath salts soothes muscles aches, there’s also a nice cooling effect that I love.

Peppermint bath salts

½ cup of epsom salt

A couple tablespoons of baking soda

10-15 drops of peppermint oil

Add dry ingredients to a bowl

Top off with peppermint oil, mix well and store in a glass jar.

Add to a warm bath 🙂 It’s so comforting.

Because I’m constantly on the go, I always have both Excedrin® Migraine(indicated for migraines)and Excedrin® PM Headache (for nighttime headache relief to help you sleep) with me at all times. These small bottles are very convenient and fit inside a small makeup bag.

What I like about Excedrin PM is that it has two pain fighters, plus a sleep aid. I’ve found myself with a horrible headache in the evening that were so bad, I couldn’t fall asleep. You never know when they’re going to hit, so it’s smart to have options on hand.

And that, my friends is how I live with migraines and still show up to everything!

I found Excedrin® Migraine at Walmart, conveniently located in the pain reliever aisle. Remember to use as directed.

We were supposed to go to the Phillipines a few years ago for a family wedding and had an issue with my husband’s passport and we didn’t get to go! It was heartbreaking. I really hope to be able to go some day. {client}

First of all, I ❤️ LOVE your traditional and authentic Filipino dresses – you look so stunning in the photos! My favorite is the one with the mountains in the background. Looks like a magazine! Secondly it’s awful about your headaches. I agree that Excedrin is a perfect way to fix it. Lastly, you made me want to go to a Kamayan! 🙂

Hi! I’m Annie Alvarez, a Millennial lifestyle blogger based out of Orlando, Miami and Philadelphia.

I love to share my beauty tips, delicious recipes, travel and everything from A to Z.